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The Rest of Us with Dana Tenille Weekes
The Rest of Us podcast explores rest as self-liberation for advocates and professionals who are losing themselves to the demands of work, loved ones, friends, strangers, and this dizzying world. The Rest of Us cultivates a community through honest reflections, conversations, and laughter for people willing to embrace rest differently.
The Rest of Us with Dana Tenille Weekes
Poetic Interlude - Derrick Weston Brown reading "Pool"
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What bodily sensations can you recall that signify rest should be near? In this Poetic Interlude, Derrick Weston Brown shares his poem “Pool” (previously published in Narrative Northeast Journal).
Creative expression is a portal to rest as liberation. Creatives, including poets, show us how to embrace our humanity and act on our truths. We in The Rest of Us community view this as a deep connection to one’s own agency — our definition of rest.
Settle into the work of Derrick Weston Brown and even explore your own creativity, which we define as liberatory rest.
ABOUT DERRICK
Derrick Weston Brown holds an MFA in creative writing from American University. He is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. He was an adjunct professor of English and Literature at Prince George’s Community College and is a full-time Creative Writing faculty member at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Derrick’s debut poetry collection, Wisdom Teeth, was released in April 2011 on Busboys and Poets Press/PM Press. His second collection, On All Fronts, was released along with two other poetry chapbooks in a bound series from Upper Rubber Boot Press titled Floodgates Vol.5, in March of 2019.
Visit Derrick's website.
Say “hello” to Derrick on Instagram @theoriginalderrickwestonbrown.
You can also visit therestofuspodcast.com to read Derrick's poem and reflection prompt, along with other featured poets in the Poetic Interlude community.
PODCAST TEAM
Host, Dana Tenille Weekes
Producer, Annabelle Oh
Editor, Sagheer Muhammad
Content Manager, Annabelle Oh
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Until next time, rest, my friends.
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Welcome to the Poetic Interlude as part of the Rest of Us podcast. Each poetic interlude holds space to remind us that creative expression is a portal to rest as liberation. Creatives, including poets, show us how to embrace our humanity and act on our truth, not fear, in this present moment, which we in the Rest of Us community view as a deep connection to one's agency. Our definition of rest. Let's settle in. Derek Weston Brown holds an MFA in creative writing from American University. He was an adjunct professor of English and literature at Prince George's Community College and is a full-time creative writing faculty member at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. Derek's debut poetry collection, Wisdom Teeth, was released in April 2011 on Busboys and Poets Press PM Press. His second collection, On All Fronts, was released along with two other poetry chat books in a bound series from Upper Rubber Boot Press titled Floodgates, Volume 5, in March of 2019. Say hello to Derek on Instagram at the original Derek Weston Brown. That's D-E-R-R-I-C-K W E S T O N. You can also visit the RestofusPodcast.com to read Derek's poem and reflection prompts along with other poets in the poetic interlude community. Let's settle in.
SPEAKER_01My name is Derek Weston Brown, and I will read my poem. From the Aquabra Melanated Merman series, and for black men who swim. Underneath the blue rim of waves, the water breaks across my brown back. I paddle my legs and crawl, a buoyant black mass of bubble and sigh. I am writing a grocery list, one lap, sycopating my breath, the other five, ignoring the cooking in my ample thighs and hoping to leave these extra pounds in the water instead of just spent breath. When the water breaks across my brown back, when I breach the liquid seal each time I turn my head and inhale, I am getting over myself and all of the unseen inside me that weighs I down. When the water breaks across my brown back, I roll, float, a body at rest, unmoored, a sable, soft current. I think I want to love like this. Strokes, brown breath, breach, ease, undulate, muscle, memory, wave, hide, tug, current, cooling, ample, inhale, liquid, spent, breath, lapping, rest, repeat. As you receive this poem, settle into this reflection. You can think in silence, rewrite, draw, or even craft a poem. Swimming is a major stress reliever for me, in addition to being great exercise. However, as much as I love propelling myself through the water, my favorite part of swimming is, well, floating. Coming to rest after much movement is a great sensation for me. What actions or sensations can you recall related to your body that signify rest should be near?
SPEAKER_00Thank you for listening to this poetic interlude. Remember, we are all creatives, whether we believe it or not. And creativity itself is a source for what we in the Rest of Us community call liberatory rest. Want to listen to more poetic interludes? Visit the RestofusPodcast.com or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next time, rest, my friends.